Rail joint



May s, 1923.

J. HABERL RAIL JOINT 2 Sheets-Shee. 1

Filed Nov. 5, 1927 1 j W I F. 10 2.2 w

QM n w INVENTOR. v grass 1h Ilaberl A TTOR EY.

Patented May 8, 1928.

ire-2,294

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HABERL, or srriuarnnnrnn, PENNSYLVANIA.

. RAIL JOINT.

Application filed November 5, 1927.. Serial No. 231,347.

[This invention relates to rail joints, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a rail joint whereby the opposed ends of a pair of track rails are efficiently connected together without the employment of bolts extending through the fish plates and rail webs and carrying securing nuts, as now generally used, and at the sametiine providing for the necessary con- 19 traction and expansion of the track rails when connected together. I

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a rail joint, which issiinple in its construction. and arrangement, strong-"durable, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently installed for joining a pair of track rails to gether, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. l r

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like refer ence characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a pair of track rails showing the adaptation therewith of a rail joint inacoordance with this invention and looking towards one side of the joint.

elevation of a the adaptation therewith of rail joint in accordance with this invention and with the locking element of the joint'reinoved.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of'the lockvention comprises a drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment stantial distance Figure 2is the fragmentary view in sidepair of track rails showing is provided on line 66 Figthe fish-plates looking towards the inner side thereof- Figure 9 is asectio ure 5. A i

Figure 10 is a. sectional plan of a modified form of fish plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 and 2 indicate a pair of track rails and each of which has the web thereof provided with a plurality of'openings 3 arranged in spaced relationi and which can be of any suitable contour, and, are shown by way of example as of rectangular form.

A. rail joint in accordance with this inpair of oppositely dis- 50f angle shaped cross section and with the vertical part of the fish plate 5 of greater thickness than the vertical part of the fish plate 4. See Figures 5 and 6. The fish plates 4 and 5 are adapted to be interposedbetween thehead and base flanges of the track rails and to project laterally from the base flanges and thepro-' jecting portions of the'fish plates are provided with notches 6 for the passagewof spikes to fixedly secure the fish plates in on line 9-9 Figposed fish plates 4:,

position; V

The inner face ofthe fish plate 4 has formed integral therewitha series of spaced, slotted attaching lugs 7 corresponding in number to the number of the openings 3 and of a contour similar to that of the contour of the openings 3.*The slots in each of said lugs 7 areindicated at'S. The lugs 7 freelyextend through the openings 3 and are of appropriate length so as to project a sub- 1 from the webs of thet-rack rai s.

openings 9, for the passage of the lugs :7, and said openings 9 are of greater size'than' the cross sectional area of fish plate 5,

with an integral lug projecting from one'end of an opening 9 and terminating at apoint removed from the other end of the opening thereby providing a passage between the lugs 10' and said other end of the openings 9 for the lugs 7 to extend therein. After the lug 7 are extended into the openings 9, the fish plate 5 is shifted lengthwise of the track rails so that the lugs 10 will extend through the slots 8 of the lugs 7 whereby the fish plates 4 and 5 are coupled together. against the webs of the rails.

;The fish plate 5 is formed with a series of l any ofthe lugs. The 7 within each of the openings 9,

, the attaching devices at ,ploying the The fish plate 5 is formed with a plurality of attaching devices and said devices can be of any suitable form for the purpose of securing a locking element, to be presently referred to, to the fish plate 5. By way of example the attaching devices are disposed at each end and centrally of the fish plate 5, as well as being carried by the latter, and

the ends of the fishplate 5 consist of a headed bolt 11 passing through and projecting from said fish plate 5 and having the threaded portion of its shank extend a substantial distance from the fish plate 5 as indicated at 12. The attaching device at the center of the fish plate 5 consists of a peripherally threaded member 13 which is anchored in the fish plate 5 and extends through and projects from a lug 14: formed on the outer face of the vertical portion of the fish plate 5. In lieu of embolt 11, the fish plate 5 can be provided with anchored peripherally threaded cylindrical members or extensions.

The locking element comprises a bar 15 formed with openings 16, 17 and 18 and further formed on its inner face with a series of transversely extending rectangular projections 18 each formed with a seat 19 provided by recessing each of the extensions 18.

The locking element is adapted to be positioned against the outer face of the fish plate 5 and receives, in the seats 19, the outer ends of the lugs 10 which project from the lugs 7. The bolts 12 extend through the openings 16 and 18 and the lug 14: is seated in the opening 17 and with the member 13 projected beyond the bar 15. Securing nuts 20 are mounted on the outer ends of the bolts 12 and member 18 and interposed between the nuts 20 and thebar 15 are locking washers Figure 10 illustrates a modified form of fish plate and which corresponds to the construction of the fish plate 5, with this exception that it is not provided with thebolts 12 but has anchored therein cylindrical members 22 which are peripherally threaded and project a substantial distance from the fish plate for the purpose of extending through the locking element. The fish plate shown in Figure 10 is indicated at 23 and otherwise than that as stated the construction of the fish plate shown in Figure 10 is the same as that shown in Figure 5.

lugs extending means for fixedly securing said locking ele- It is thought the many advantages of a rail joint, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and I lescr-ibed, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A rail joint comprising a pair of oppositely disposed fish plates, one of said fish plates having projecting from its inner face a series of slotted attaching lugs for passing through the webs of a pair of track rails, the other of said fish plates formed with openings for the passage of said attaching lugs and further provided in each of said openings with a lug for extension through a against that fish plate I ormed with openings and provided with project-ions having recesses, said projections extending into said openings and receiving the free ends of the through the slotted lugs, and

ment in position.

2. A rail joint comprising a pair of oppositely disposed fish plates, said fish plates having coacting elements extending at right angles with respect to each other for connecting said fish plates together, and locking means secured to one of said fish plates, extending thereinto and receiving certain 0 said coacting elements and opposing the others.

8. A rail joint comprising a pair of oppositely disposed fish plates having coacting interengaging elements plates together, extension through the webs of a pair of track rails, the elements carried by one of said fish plates extending at right angles to the elements carried by the other of said fish plates, and a locking means positioned against the outer face of one of said fish plates, secured thereto and provided with means extending into that fish plate to which it is secured for receiving certain of said elements and opposing the other of said elements.

In testimony whereof, I alfix my signature hereto.

JOSEPH HABERL.

for connecting saidv certain of said elements for a 

